Thebe Magugu's Debut Menswear Line Takes Cues From His Personal Wardrobe
Traditional African garments and collegiate staples also provide inspiration.
Thebe Magugu‘s busy month continues. The LVMH Prize winner recently issued a special capsule with Dover Street Market, which coincided with the launch of his very own web store. Now, the Johannesburg creative is realizing his first collection of clothing explicitly created with menswear in mind, though it’s appropriately designed to be worn genderless if the wearer so desires.
Magugu recontextualizes British influences through a playful lens, transforming the Basotho blanket into a generous poncho inspired by Magugu’s experiences growing up in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Elsewhere, football uniforms are reshaped into comfy knit separates, while pieces like the Corrugated Iron Parka offer more functional accents. “[Its] print, which mimics a pinstripe, is a photograph of my aunt’s corrugated iron roof, taken where I spent most of my childhood,” Magugu explained in a statement.
Though there are plentiful genderless items in the collection, the offering also includes some feminine-leaning items — like printed dresses and skirts — to encourage more adventurous styling and play to Magugu’s formidable design strengths. “This men’s capsule is quite special because it directly takes cues from my own wardrobe, which is quite solution-driven, and I hope other men (and women) find it does the same for them,” Magugu continued.
Shop the new line on Thebe Magugu’s new web store.
Similarly, Grace Wales Bonner updates British tradition with Jamaican authenticity in her Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
